LESSON THIRTEEN Lessons From a Worm

1 LESSON THIRTEEN . Lessons From a Worm References Monthly Theme Jonah 4; Prophets God teaches us how to treat others. and Kings, pp. 272-278 The Bible LESSON at a Glance Jonah is a successful messenger twice once to the sailors on the ship and then to the city of Nineveh. The people are saved as a result of the message from God that he delivers to the city of Memory Verse Nineveh. Unfortunately, Jonah does not enjoy that success; he is How great is the displeased and angry (Jonah 4:1, NKJV). God uses a vine and a love the Father has worm to teach Jonah about mercy, compassion, and celebration lavished on us, that when others join God's family. we should be called children of God! And This is a LESSON about community. that is what we The wicked people of Nineveh were potential members of are! (1 John 3:1). the family of God. God valued these people so much that He sent Jonah with a caring message of warning.

2 When they turned from their wickedness, God happily reversed His verdict of destruction and welcomed them into His family, in contrast with Jonah's utter Objectives disdain for the converted Ninevites. God's family is open to any- The children will: one who will come to Him. Let the door remain open. Let there be Know that God celebration when someone comes in that door! welcomes everyone into His family. Teacher Enrichment Feel compassion, love, and When Jonah learned of God's purpose to spare the city that, acceptance toward notwithstanding its wickedness, had been led to repent in sack- new members of God's family. cloth and ashes, he should have been the first to rejoice because Respond by accepting and of God's amazing grace; but instead he allowed his mind to dwell valuing others who upon the possibility of his being regarded as a false prophet. belong to God's family. Jealous of his reputation, he lost sight of the infinitely greater value of the souls in that wretched city (Prophets and Kings, p.)

3 271). The Message Room Decorations I am happy when See LESSON 10. others join God's family. 130 LESSON THIRTEEN COMMUNITY. Program Overview LESSON Section Minutes Activities Materials Needed Welcome ongoing Greet students at none door; hear pleased/. troubled _____. Readiness Options up to 10 A. Leaf Rubbings tracing paper, brown or green paper, fresh leaves, scissors, colored pencils or crayons B. Glad You're Here! none _____. Prayer and Praise* up to 10 Fellowship Songbook Sing for Joy Mission Children's Mission Offering offering device used last week, Bible Prayer none _____. Bible LESSON up to 20 Experiencing the Story stacked boxes to represent Nineveh (used in LESSON 12), table of snacks and juice within the city of Nineveh (optional), paper vine display and leaves from Readiness A or make some, picture of worm, adult male helper, bright light, electric fan, Bible-times cos- tumes, paper clips, Bible Memory Verse four cardboard or paper sheets on which are written memory verse sections Bible Study Bibles _____.

4 Applying up to 15 Friendship Circle none the LESSON _____. Sharing up to 15 Glad Cards paper for making cards, pencils, the LESSON pens, markers, etc., stickers or pic- tures, other items for decorating cards *Prayer and Praise may be used at any time during the program. LESSON THIRTEEN 131. TEACHING THE LESSON . Welcome Welcome students at the door. Ask how their week has been what they are pleased/troubled about. Encourage them to share any experiences from last week's LESSON study. Have them begin the Readiness Activity of your choice. Readiness Activities Select the activity most appropriate for your situation. A. Leaf Rubbings You Need: Use green or brown twisted paper to create a vine. (This may be used during tracing paper Experiencing the Story. ) Have the children place fresh leaves on a table and put trac- brown or ing paper or colored paper over the leaves. Have them rub the colored pencils or crayons green paper over the paper to get leaf rubbings.

5 Have the children cut out the leaf rubbings. Save fresh tree or them for Experiencing the Story. Alternative: Have children draw and cut out leaf plant leaves scissors shapes on green paper. colored pencils or crayons Debriefing Collect the leaves or have them set aside for now. Say: What is your favorite kind of plant? (Accept answers.) There is a plant in our LESSON story for today. We have just prepared some leaves that will be part of a paper plant that will help with telling the story. The plant will teach us about today's message, which is: I AM HAPPY WHEN OTHERS JOIN GOD'S FAMILY. Say that with me. B. Glad You're Here! Have the children turn to someone and call them by name, shake hands, and give the greeting: I'm glad that you are here! Tell them to do this to at least five people. Encourage them to greet someone they don't know. Debriefing Say: Why did I ask you to greet others? (You want us to be friendly.)

6 How did you feel when you were greeting others? How did you feel when your class- mates welcomed you? (good) If a visitor comes to Sabbath School, what will you do? (Be happy; welcome him/her.) Our LESSON today is about others who join God's family. Today's messsage says: I AM HAPPY WHEN OTHERS JOIN GOD'S FAMILY. Say that with me. 132 LESSON THIRTEEN Prayer and Praise Fellowship Report the students' joys and sorrows (pleased and troubled) as reported to you at the door (as appropriate). Review the memory verse and allow time for sharing experiences from last week's LESSON study. Acknowledge any birthdays, special events, or achievements. Give a special warm greeting to all visitors. Suggested Songs The Family of God (Sing for Joy, no. 139). Blest Be the Tie That Binds (Sing for Joy, no. 140). We Are the Church (Sing for Joy, no. 141). What Joy It Is to Worship Here (Sing for Joy, no. 142). We Are the Church, Everyone (Sing for Joy, no.)

7 143). Mission Share a story from Children's Mission at Ask: Did anyone join God's family in the story? (yes; no) How does that make you feel? Offering Make a smile around the mouth on the offering device to represent You Need: being happy when others join God's family. Have the children put their offering device offering in the smiling mouth of the device. Say: Our offerings will be from last week used to invite others to join God's family. Let's give offerings to God Bible happily. Read 2 Corinthians 9:7. Prayer Invite each child to pray out loud, thanking God for specific people who came to church today. For example: Thank You, Jesus, that my grandma came to church today ; Thank You that my cousin came, etc. Close with a general prayer that God will help us to be happy when others worship with God's family. LESSON THIRTEEN 133. Bible LESSON to run away to Tarshish! You are a lov- ing and merciful God.

8 You are patient and kind. I knew You would change Experiencing the Story Your mind and not destroy these terrible people! Just go ahead and kill me! Jonah Setting the Scene shouted. It would be better if I died since You Need: nothing I predicted is going to happen! . Place up front the city of Nineveh . stacked boxes stacked boxes from LESSON 12. Put a The Lord answered Jonah. Is it right or city of for you to be angry like this? He asked. small table holding juice and snacks* (if Nineveh from Maybe something will happen to Nineveh appropriate) within the city of Nineveh.. LESSON 12. Place the paper vine where all can after all, Jonah thought. He decided to hike snacks and juice see. Distribute paper clips and leaves. Tell out to where he could look down on the (optional). paper vine and the children they will use them during the city and watch. [Jonah walks a short distance leaves from story.]

9 Have Jonah sit near the vine. As from the city of Nineveh and faces it.]. Readiness A or the story progresses and the vine begins It was very hot on that hillside. Jonah provide some to wither, have a hidden helper remove made a little shelter with tree branches to picture of worm leaves from the vine and drop them to protect himself from the sun. Then he sat adult male the floor. Turn on a bright light and a fan down and waited. [Jonah sits down on the (Jonah) to simulate the hot sun and wind that hit floor among some chairs.]. bright light Jonah. Suddenly a most unusual thing electric fan began to happen. God made a vine with Bible-times lots of big green leaves begin to grow Read or tell the story. costumes The people of Nineveh were so beside Jonah's shelter. [Place vine display paper clips happy when they realized that God had on chairs near Jonah.] Jonah stared at the Bible seen how sorry they were for their sins.

10 Plant. He had never seen anything like After repenting of their sins, they praised it! He had never seen anything grow so God for His love and forgiveness. fast! Up and up it went. The stem grew [Children move toward the city where longer and thicker. Big leaves appeared they in unison will proclaim the message: and uncurled one after another. [Children God is good. He loves us and forgives us. come up and attach their leaves to the vine.]. Praise God! Invite the children to eat and The vine climbed all over Jonah's lit- drink at the table of snacks and juice* within tle shelter. It made it a wonderfully shady the city if appropriate in your situation signi- place to sit. Jonah smiled to himself. It fying the end of their fast and their rebellion.] was nice not to be baking in the sun! Jonah's face grew red. He gritted Jonah was very pleased with the plant. his teeth . [Jonah stands next to the chil- [Jonah smiles.]]